Matthew Shepherd is a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 97. He assumed office on January 9, 2023. His current term ends on January 11, 2027. Shepherd was elected speaker of the House in March 2018 to replace former Rep. Jeremy Gillam. Shepherd was sworn into the office on June 15, 2018. On April 24, 2020, Shepherd was unanimously re-elected as speaker-designate of the House for the legislative session beginning in 2021. Prior to becoming speaker of the House, Shepherd served two terms as the chairman of the Arkansas House Judiciary Committee. In a January 2019 interview with Talk Business & Politics, Shepherd said he planned to work closely with the governor and the Senate Majority Leader Jim Hendren. He also said one of his main goals was to pass ethics reform legislation.
